Tom Gretencord

Wednesday

Aug 29, 2012 at 8:25 AM

Tom Gretencord serves the community through his involvement in the Cypress Gardens Lions Club. He has worked the concession stand at the Winter Haven Theater and this past spring he worked the concession stand for the College Invitational Baseball Tournaments. He has helped deliver poinsettias and assisted with other projects. He volunteers at the Lake Alfred Lions Club Bingo on Saturday nights. Tom has served Lions at the club, district and state levels for 45 years.Each Monday he is a driver for Meals On Wheels. and after that is done he turns his van toward Outpost 27, where he volunteers each Monday afternoon packing information for tourists. He starts Tuesday mornings guiding a variety of Lions from different clubs through sorting eye glasses. When packed, he loads them in the van and takes them to Polk Correctional, where they are cleaned and labeled. He will bring them back so they can be picked up and taken to Project Right To Sight in Orlando, where they are stored for missionary projects or patients at an Eye Clinic that provides eye exams and glasses to the under-privileged.He is a past president of the Lake Alfred Chamber of Commerce and will still attend some of their meetings.He is a past president of the Lake Alfred Little League, where he served three years. Before that he was a Cub Scout leader.Even with all the time he donates to help his community, he still has time for family and church. Tom has a difficult time telling anyone "no" when they ask for his help. From my Dad, I have learned the greatest lesson of all -- the importance of family, friends and giving back to your community and fellow man.